Losing our 9 year old bunny Sir Francis has been devastating for us. We have been staring at his empty cage and remembering all of the good times and love we shared with our little funny bunny. After my wife and I talked it over we decided to follow the advice I've given so many times here on Lightning Strike and we went to the local shelter to see if there was a bunny there who needed a good home. We went into the room and walked to the end past barking dogs to a small urine-drenched cage with a little frightened rex bunny huddled up in the corner. There was no water, no food except for a small handful of what looked like grass clippings, and no bedding on the floor. When I put my hand in, the bunny came running up and nuzzled me. It took my wife and I 5 seconds to decide that he was going home with us.

His name is Peter and he is a sweetheart. He has already played with his toys, eaten tons of hay and some pellets, and touched noses with all of the cats here. We haven't taken Peter out of the cage yet because we wanted him to acclimate to his new home without stressing him. He comes running to the front of the cage for petting whenever we open the door. He is thoroughly enjoying his new life so far. Tonight he will get to roam the bunny-proofed house for the first time while the cats are up in the bedrooms. We are looking forward to learning more about this sweet bunny's personality as time goes by, but it has been a wonderful beginning to watch his transformation from a frightening, miserable bunny to a contented, playful furkid.

Oh Ken

Peter is a beauty! He really needed you and you really needed him. I'm so happy you all found each other. It's so nice to bring home a little mess and see them transform to the beautiful being they were meant to be. I'll bet everyone had a good time seeing the house for the first time!

Congrats!

Lori

Dear Ken & Karen:

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO happy for all of you !

Peter looks absolutely wonderful -- very handsome, too! You & Karen have been on my mind - I've wondered how you both were getting along.

I am thrilled that you found a beautiful furbaby who desperately needed a home as well as a home that is filled with tons & tons of LOVE! Not to mention, many siblings .

I sincerely believe, with all of my heart, that your beloved Sir Francis is looking down from Heaven and smiling - giving you "two paws" up . Perhaps you were led to the shelter?

For Peter......... going from such a sad, depressing existence at the shelter , (NO water, NO food - urine drenched cage with no bedding), to your wonderful, loving home ---- I really am so very, very happy - for ALL OF YOU! .

God Bless you all!

Peace & Love,

Denise & Ben, Ms. Lucy & Mr. Yoster

Ken,
I'm really glad you decided to go to the shelter because poor Peter might not have been there much longer - sounds like a pretty miserable existence he had before. Thank goodness you took him home. Wishing you all love and happiness together.

Debbie
Sheps mama

Ken

What an absolutely adorable little guy he is! I'm so happy for you. I know he can't replace your Sir Francis, but it IS nice to not have an empty cage and have another little fuzzy body to love and hold.

I'm so glad you were able to save him from his likely fate and now he has a wonderful loving home with your family.

Congrats on your new family member!

Thank you all *so* much for the wonderful welcome for Peter. He just came back from his checkup with our rabbit vet and he is in great shape. We've had him out several times now. He spends the first few minutes running around the room leaping up in the air with joy. People in my internet bunny group PetBunny call these 'binkies' and they are a lot of fun to watch. Here is a picture of him resting next to his stuffed bunny after exhausting himself binkying.

He has a stuffed bunny? How cute is that!?!?!

I'm so glad things are working out with little Peter and that his vet checkup went well. Please do keep us posted and you know how we love pictures!

Ken

Oh he is such a beauty! Thank you for the photos. I agree a stuffed bunny for a bunny is just too cute!

I had a bunny when I was a kid, his name was Flopsy. The binkies are so cute. I hope you guys have many years of joy and binkies!

Love

Here is Peter grooming one of his two little stuffed rabbit friends. He plays with us a lot but still seems to take comfort in having his bunnies here.

That picture is absolutely adorable!

I'm glad he is doing well. Can't wait to hear more about him as he settles in.

Ken

What a great picture of Peter. He is so handsome. His stuffed bunny kinda looks like him! I'm so happy to hear he is doing so well.

Love

Ken,

So very sweet, that pic of Pete and his stuffie! Does this mean he'd like a real bunny pal? ( I forget now how that works w/bunnies....is it the same gender they get along with or the opposite?....whatever gender his stuffie is, I guess!) And hey, what's with that punky hairdo of his? Did his stuffie just finish grooming him?

Being a rex rabbit, his fur is a little kinky in places. I guess it does give him a look a little like Billy Idol!

Erm Peter Idol? ROFL I love it.

Peter Idol, looks like he clearly enjoys the company of his stuffed bunny pals, what a cutie!